The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Tinubu could have secured victory for the All Progressives Congress in the August 15 Osun State governorship election if he had chosen to deploy the full political influence of the Federal Government.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the Federal Government deliberately allowed the election to proceed without interference, resulting in the victory of the Accord candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The minister spoke on Tuesday while inspecting flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja, where he also commented on the outcome of the Osun election.
Wike said he would have supported Tinubu if the President had decided to ensure an APC victory in the poll, insisting that the governor would not have been able to withstand the combined political strength of the Federal Government.
“If the President had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would have been there and we would have won it, and there’s nothing the governor can do,” Wike said.
Adeleke was declared winner of the August 15 election after securing victory in 19 of the 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, won in 11 LGAs.
Wike argued that the outcome demonstrated that the Federal Government did not deploy its political machinery to influence the election in favour of the APC.
“There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the Federal Government, you will know,” he said.
The FCT minister also suggested that Adeleke might have been a member of the APC under different political circumstances.
“Ordinarily, Adeleke would have been with APC if things had worked out well,” Wike said.
Despite remaining in the opposition PDP, Wike has continued to publicly support the Tinubu administration and has maintained his backing for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He predicted that Tinubu would face a less difficult presidential contest in 2027 compared with the 2023 election.
“The 2027 elections will be the easiest one for the President compared to 2023,” the former Rivers State governor said.
Wike attributed his prediction to what he described as the weakened state of Nigeria’s opposition parties, arguing that they had lost much of their political strength.
“This time around, the opposition has been crippled, homeless, no feather,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties and politicians exploring possible alliances and strategies to challenge the ruling APC.
Wike’s continued support for Tinubu, despite his membership of the PDP, has remained a major feature of the political landscape since he joined the President’s administration as FCT minister.
The minister’s latest comments are also likely to fuel further debate within the PDP over his political position and his relationship with the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
